Blockbusted update
Update on the Blockbusted story:
I just called Blockbuster’s corporate office. The woman I spoke to said that Blockbuster’s corporate policy is that you should be able to sign up for just a membership, with no fee and no requirement to sign up for Blockbuster Online. She said that franchise stores have the choice to set their own policies, but that all corporate-owned stores should be following that rule. She also confirmed that my local store is corporate-owned, not a franchise, and should therefore be following the rules.
I then called my local store and spoke to the manager there. He confirmed that his store’s policy is to require Blockbuster Online signup. I told him that Blockbuster corporate policy was not to require Blockbuster Online signup, and he didn’t care. He said that “all the stores are doing it”. I reiterated that his policy was in violation of Blockbuster’s policy, and he refused to change his tune. Eventually I hung up in frustration.
I ended my last post with “Screw Blockbuster”, but I can’t go that far this time, since there seems to be a different policy at the corporate level. I can, however, urge everyone to avoid the Blockbuster store at:
21-61 31st Street (at Ditmars)
Astoria, NY
11105-2601
They are abusing their customers, in violation of their own company’s rules.
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[...] Last Saturday night, I felt like watching a movie, and since Blockbuster is the only movie rental place within walking distance of my apartment, I figured I’d ignore my long-standing dislike of the company just this once. So I went down, picked out my movies, and went up to the counter.I had never rented at this particular Blockbuster before (see above about “long-standing dislike”), so I needed to establish a membership. The guy at the counter told me that I had to show a driver’s license and major credit card (perfectly reasonable), pay a $10 dollar fee (a bit much, but acceptable) and sign up for their Netflix ripoff, Blockbuster Online. Wait, what? I told him that I didn’t want to sign up for Blockbuster Online, and he refused to let me start a membership without signing up. And of course I couldn’t rent movies without a membership, so I was forced to leave without my movies.I don’t want to sign up for Blockbuster Online. I know I wouldn’t use the service enough to justify the monthly fee. I know that canceling is likely to be difficult–if the company’s this obnoxious about forcing you to sign up, they’ll be at least as obnoxious about trying to keep you from leaving. And it boggles my mind that they’ll turn away a paying customer because he doesn’t want to sign up for this unnecessary service.I e-mailed Blockbuster Corporate that night to ask if this was company policy, or just a single rogue manager. They claim that they answer e-mails in one business day, and I haven’t heard back, so I’m assuming that it’s company policy and they don’t want to admit it–if it were just one rogue manager, surely they’d be falling over themselves to apologize and make amends, right?Screw Blockbuster. If they abuse their customers like this, I hope that Netflix and the rise of digital distribution drive them out of business.Update: I talked to Blockbuster corporate, and to the manager of my local store. More details here. [...]
I support your effort to make Blockbuster live up to its corporate policies, but one you have finished your crusade why not go one step further and find a different vendor?
Alas, they’re the only video rental place I have, unless I want to get on a subway. As it is, I’ve lived here since 2004 and this was the first time I tried to rent there, so it’s not like I’m a frequent customer.
Just thought I’d comment that neither of the two blockbuster stores within 10 min of my house require you to sign up for their online service in order to rent something. I signed up for a rental membership (free) at one of the stores a couple weeks ago and I also happened to be with a friend who signed up for the same thing at the other store. I left the store with my movie having only had to pay for the movie rental. I’m still not a huge fan of blockbuster only because they charge 7 bucks for a movie rental. Yes you get to keep it for a week but I have no need to keep a film that long (unless its a video game in which case its worth it) and will usually rent at a local mom/pop rental place that charges 3 bucks for a rental to be returned the next day, or 4 days later if its older. My suggestion is if possible find a privately owned rental place, prices are usually lower and the employees are usually very nice and willing to help you pick a movie if you want. Blockbuster has become my backup for when my usual place doesn’t have something (certain video games, or old/obscure films)
Anyway I feel your pain, if they had tried to make me sign up for a monthly subscription to their online service I would have been furious. I’m sure if you cared enough you could possibly have something done about this. Think about it, why would Blockbuster want to eliminate all the customers that come in every so often to rent a movie or game? Seems like it would be suicide for them, besides if you wanted the online service why would you ever even bother going to the store in the first place. Just my input here - Macky
The only reason I can see why a store would try to cheat people into signing up for their online service would be if the person trying to sign you up was getting a nice commission off of it. Otherwise it just doesn’t make sense to me, if they were to try to get you to sign up for anything in-store I would think it would be their in-store plans where you pay monthly to go to the store and rent a predetermined or unlimited amount of movies each month. The scheme described in this article would effectively eliminate the majority of their customers either way. If they signed up for the online service they would probably not go to the store anymore, and if they refused it they also wouldn’t go to the store anymore. What a scam, any rental place I’ve ever heard of (private and franchise) doesn’t charge you for membership but only for actual rentals.
(No relation to the Tracy that replied prior…)
Too bad I didn’t see this until it was too late. Two days too late.
I was bullied also, into the BB Online service at the same place (for the same reason - felt like watching a movie) - Ditmars Blvd; Astoria, two days ago. I had just moved there and used to the old membership I’ve had for years where I last lived. The lady there told me I could just cancel it when I get home - however, there was no point in me even signing up (except for, maybe, the $10 right then and there) if the customer was just going to go straight home and cancel the Blockbuster Online deal. Seeing how people are having problems cancelling this, it’s starting to worry me…
When the lady first started telling me about this new thing, while registering for my new card, I tried to decline it, thinking this was some sort of offer - however, she told me it was “MANDATORY” or required to register. From what I’m seeing and reading, that is incorrect. Severly incorrect, if this is against the policy. This might be a scam to keep the specific store open. She also mentioned another Blockbuster nearby(?) had closed sometime. I don’t know the area well enough yet to say if this was true or not.
Wow, yeah, I wish you’d found my blog post sooner, Tracy L. Did you end up signing up for the online service? Did you cancel?
I haven’t been back to that Blockbuster since, and I’m encouraging people who live in the area to avoid it.
Yeah, I seriously wish I did see it sooner, Morganth…
I did, taking her word to just cancel it later (which I did), since it seems to be the only place in the area.
I passed this update to my sister who lives in the same area, and a friend witnessed it while I was getting the membership. He wasn’t a happy camper about it either, so it’s safe to assume he will be avoiding it also.
This was definatly useful - I had thought this was some sort of new way all the Blockbusters were doing it, but now I know for the future.
I want to make a long story short and say that Blockbuster will never have my business ever again—I ahve been trying for over a month the get a refund of $89.95. They say that they don’t do refunds. I told them I wasn’t asking for a kidney just my money back.
What happened is my husband closed the account a month or two after opening it (or so he thought) he submitted the cancellation and went on about his life. 5 months later after I took over the check book we are still being billed $17.99 per month for online service that was cancelled in Feb/Mar.
I tried the CEO but the CEO of blockbuster is different everytime I turn around. So I did some checking…VIACOM OWNS BLOCKBUSTER. So I am starting my quest to bombard Viacom with complaints about a business it owns to get my money back. It is not even really about the money anymore, it is the principle of it all. They took money that was not rightfilly theirs for a service that was supposed to be cancelled.
There are so many complaints—if we all could just make one phone call we might be able to right what was wronged for us and help prevent other people getting raped by blockbuster.
Viacom is located in NY
the number is 212-258-6000 ask for public relations pass this info on–if blockbuster doesn’t want to help maybe Viacom will just to stop the phone calls.
I am a former Blockbuster assistant manager. First of all, let me just say that the corporate level treats the store level like crap. Especially if the store does not hit it’s sales numbers. The crazy thing is, the only thing they offer as a commission is job security. It’s not right that they were making people sign up for the online blockbuster; but I can see why the store manager was doing it. He just needed to hit his numbers.
Also, Blockbuster is it’s own company now. About a 2 years ago they split from viacom. If you really want to make a stand, you need to conact the district leader or the regional manager. If that store doesn’t give you hisher number or home store, try calling another blockbuster in your neighborhood. Chances are that those stores will be in the same district. You can also fill out a complaint online.
I have a tiff about what Tracy said. If you don’t notice a monthly charge of almost $20 for 5 months, then you don’t deserve a refund. Seriously, with online banking nowadays, you can fill up your car and the charge will be pending by the time you get home. Even if you don’t use online banking they send a statement each month. At my store if that happened we would only refund for the previous month billed. Even the customers that happened to, a very small amount, thought that was fair.
Hey can you PLEASE email me where BBuster’s corporate office is located- at least the city. I am having a very tough time finding that info online. Thanks so much!
Sorry, I don’t know–there’s a phone number on their website, though, and I bet they’ll tell you if you call.
Blockbuster Headquarters
1201 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75270
Try this address. I saw it online when I did a yahoo search for corporate office of Blockbuster in Ca.
I’m ticked off because some of their employees won’t give me a return receipt. But, other employees will. There 1-800-406-6843 wouldn’t give me info on their return receipt policy without my contact info which is refused to give!
I’m currently a Blockbuster employee at a store in NC. I understand what the previous guy mentioned about hitting their numbers, but the store had no right to do it.
In fact, Blockbuister’s policy has changed. After management changes during summer 07 Blockbuster is no longer pushing for the Online program because the company as a whole was losing money from it.
Think about it, if I get the Online Program and I get at least 2 movies at a time with Unlimited rentals. There’s the exchange process where you bring the envelopes that you get in the mail and bring them to the store. You exchange the envelopes for a free rental of any movie. Then you leave.
The store you went to doesn’t get a dime from you and you get two more movies to watch WHILE you wait for the next movies to come.
This while a good idea, hurt every store’s sales. They even had to close a lot of stores last year.
That store manager was just shooting himself in the foot by doing that. Not only would the customers that sign up at his store have the Online Program, but he wouldn’t get any money from them when they came in to exchange. If they came at all.
Then on top of that, he alienated the customers that didn’t want to sign up. Not to mention the $10 fee. I’m mad about that! Is that even going to the store or blockbuster or does that go right into someone’s pocket?
Cause if they didn’t give you a receipt for it, than it’s illegal.
Just found this:
Blockbuster Inc.
1201 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75270
Phone: 214-854-3000
Fax: 214-854-4848
I rented movies from blockbuster, they use to have no late fees, and if you returned a movie late you’d pay for the movie, but then when returned, you get credited the money back. However,This time the policy has changed, you are charged $30 a movie and they will not refund it after 20 days. I returned 2 movies in the outside box and now am in collections. I went into the store to talk to them about this and the movies are out on rent! How can I still be charged for movies that I don’t have and they are still renting!!!